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Aizawl: The third meeting of the high-level task force on the North East Economic Corridor discussed strengthening the connectivity corridor between Bangladesh and the northeastern states and the India-Myanmar-Thailand transport corridor, officials said on Tuesday.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Monday chaired the third virtual meeting of the high-level task force on the North East Economic Corridor, a senior Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) official said.
State Planning Secretary Lalmalsawma Pachuau presented a detailed summary of the key points discussed and progress made in the last two meetings of the Task Force.
The CMO official said the major topics discussed included the establishment of key connectivity corridors between Bangladesh and the northeastern states and strengthening the India-Myanmar-Thailand transport corridor.
The meeting also discussed developing Guwahati as a central hub by increasing helicopter connectivity between the North-Eastern states, improving vital inland waterways, increasing railway connectivity across the region and exploring electric train services to reduce travel costs.
Initiatives for improving and expanding internet services, creation and modernization of border trade infrastructure, and better branding and comprehensive marketing of products from the North Eastern region were also discussed in the meeting, among other important proposals.
The official said the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has more than 6,829 track kilometers (TKM).
“Ambitious rail links are being established to previously unconnected state capitals including Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. These connections will integrate remote areas into national supply chains, while multimodal logistics hubs are being planned to facilitate seamless cargo movement and passenger services across the region,” the official said.
Union Minister for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Jyotiraditya Scindia, along with ministers of various northeastern states, participated in the virtual meeting.
The participants resolved to finalize the final report of the task force soon, the official said.
The DoNER Ministry had constituted several high-level task forces to identify key interventions and formulate actionable short-term, medium-term and long-term strategies for integrated development of the North East Economic Corridor.
The task force was formed after the 72nd Plenary Session of the North-Eastern Council (NEC) held in Agartala in November last year and was chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The second virtual meeting of the High Level Task Force on Agriculture-Horticulture Development in the North Eastern Region and the third virtual meeting of the High Level Task Force on Tourism were also held on Monday. The Chief Minister, ministers and senior officials also attended these meetings, while DoNER Minister Scindia participated in all three virtual meetings.
–IANS